Repeating air-gun



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-r-Sheet 1' E. E BAILEY.

' RBPEATING AIR GUN.

No. 487,169; Patentedj'Nov. 29, 1892.

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m w IA AG BN .R. m d O M 0 m Patented Nov. 29, 1892.

A TTORNEYS UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELMER ELLSWORTH BAILEY, OF SINNAMAHONIN G, PENNSYLVANIA.

REPEATING AIR-GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,169, dated November 29, 1892. Application filed May 2, 1892. Serial No. 431.466. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELMER ELLswoRrH BAILEY, residing at Sinnamahoning, in the county of Cameron and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Repeating Air-Guns, of which the following-is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in that class of repeating air-guns whose magazinetube is traversed by a small firing-tube, through which large shot or small bullets are projected by an air-blast from a chamber in which air is compressed to the requisite degree by means of a spring-actuated sliding piston.

The improvements consist in the various features and combinations of devices, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, (two sheets,) Figure 1 is a side View of the air-gun. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section, enlarged, of a lock portion of the gun, showing same ready for discharge. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section, enlarged, of the forward portion of the gun. Fig. 4 is an end view of the barrel. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are enlarged cross-sections on lines 5 5, 6 6, 7 7, and 8 8, respectively, of Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is an enlarged horizontal section of the portion between 9 and 9 in Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the breech end of the barrel or magazinetube.

The magazine or barrel A contains the small firing-tube B, and its breech is secured to the lock-frame C by means that will be presently described. The magazine has a capacity sufficient to contain atleast one thousand BB shot, which is the size of projectile preferred for use by me. The lock-frame O is made in longitudinally-recessed halves, Figs. 3 and 7, having an exterior form and. interior construction,

which adapts them for attachment of and for holding the loading and air charging and discharging mechanism.

I will proceed to describe the details of construction, arrangement, and operation of said mechanism. The cylindrical air-chamber D is arranged in a recess in the upper side of the two-part lock-frame C and held in place by flanges a, Fig. 2, formed on the latter and fitting closely over the ends of the said airchamber. The latter contains a piston E and coiled-wire spring F, arranged and operating in the usual way. A rubber block G is fitted snugly in its forward end to serve asa cushion for receiving the impact of the piston when the gun is discharged and also to prevent any leakage of air at that point. The said cushion G is perforated centrally to allow the forcible ejection of air by the forward movement of the piston, and rests against a perforated abutment formed solid with the lock-frame O. The spring F is seated against a similar perforated rear abutment through which the piston-rod Works, as shown. The rear end I) of the piston-rod H is curved downward and provided at its extremity with a notch adapted to engage a shoulder formed on the f0 rwardly-projecting arm of the pivoted lever or trip-catch I, which serves as the trigger of the gun. A spring 0 holds this catch normally in position for engagement with the piston-rod H, which is effected when the latter is drawn back to the required extent by theguard or finger-lever K. The latter is pivoted and its exterior arm is constructed with a finger-loop, as usual in magazine-firearms of the Wellknown Winchester type. Its in nerand shorter arm 01 is curved backward at its extremity to adapt it for contact with the armb of the piston-rod H, which is effected by swinging the outer or loop arm of the guard-lever K forward, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. When the piston-rod H has been thus forced back against the tension of the spring F until locked with the trigger I, the guard-lever K is pulled back to its normal or closed position, as shown by full lines in Fig. 2. In such reverse movement its shorter arm cl depresses the rear end of a straight lever L, which is pivoted centrally beneath the air-chamber D and loosely connected at its forward end with a vertically-sliding projectile-carrier M, which has the-form of a short cylinder or elongated cylindrical block, that carries a projectile (a shot or bullet) up into the tube or passage e in the lock-frame, which is in alignment with the firing-tube and the aperture in the cushion G of the air-chamber D. The rear end of the lever L is pressed upward by a spring, as shown, so that it always remains in contact with the shorter-arm of the guard-lever K, and consequently the carrier or block M is held raised when the guard-lever is in it's normal closed position. While thus raised, the carrier M supports a shot and holds it pressed against a pin N, Figs. 1, 3, and 8, that slides vertically and is normally held down by a spring that encircles it and acts against a shoulder formed on it. The pin N is fitted loosely and adapted to slide in a socket formed in a plug that screws into the upper end of the vertical bore or passage in which the carrier works. The said plug is also provided with the rear sight-f; but this is not an essential arrangement. It will be seen that a projectileto wit, a shotis held or clamped between the spring N and carrier M, and thus prevented from prematurely entering the firing-tube B, as well as held with a due degree of force against the action of the air blast or jet delivered from the air-chamber D when the retracted piston is released by the trigger.

The pin N may act by gravity alone; but the spring causes itto act with far greater efficiency. The upper end of the pin N projects above the magazine A Whenever a projectile is forced up by the carrier, and in such position it serves as an infallible indicator that the gun is ready for discharge. This construction and function are practically very important.

The magazine A has a plug 0 fitted in its front end, Whichplug is provided with afunnel-shaped opening to allow convenient charging of the magazine. A swing disk cover P prevents escape of any portion of the charge. It is pivoted on the front end of the firingtube B, which projects through and is fixed and supported in said plug 0, as shown. The end of said firing-tube is upset in order to hold the disk cover closed by friction against accidental displacement. The rear end of the firing-tube B passes through and is supported in an elongated plug Q, Figs. 3 and 10, which is preferably formed of wood for the sake of lightness. The front or inner end of this plug is recessed to facilitate entrance of projectiles into the passage formed in its lower side parallel to the firing-tube. A metaltube g is fixed in this passage and projects rearw".rd'about one-fourth of an inch, and thus. extends to the vertical passage in which the carrier-block M works. This tube is not, however, indispensable, since the lock-frame C may be constructed so asto guide the projectile Without its aid. A short bar or finger R is hinged in the passage of the plug Q and adapted to allow a projectile to pass rearward, but preventing its return. This device insures the presence of several projectiles or shots in proximity to the carrier, so that there shall be no chance of failure of delivery of the charge at the proper moment.

The firing-tube B is small as practicable and made of thin metal, and hence, as has been found by experiment, is liable to bend more or less, which necessarily deflects the projectile correspondingly from a course in strict alignment with the sights and barrel A. In other words, accuracy of fire is destroyed whenever the firing-tube is bent or curved from a straight line. It is therefore necessary to provide a supplemental and adj ustable support, and for this purpose I employ a circular block S, which fits in the barrel and is arranged at or about the middle of its length. The firing=tube B passes through it, and the block is also provided with a funnel-shaped opening to permit free passage of projectiles. It is adjustable circumferentially or around its axis, and may be secured in any adjustment by means of a clamp-screw i in the under side of the magazine or barrel A. By this simple means inaccuracy of fire, due to a lateral bend or deflection of the firing-tube B, may be easily and quickly remedied.

The magazine A is constructed with slots or openings on its sides contiguous to the breech to adapt it to receive lugs Z, Figs. 7 and 9, which are formed one on each half of the lock-frame interiorly and fit into said slots when the parts of the lock-frame are fitted together, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9. The said parts are firmly secured in such relation by means of a screw arranged transversely, as shown, Fig. 7.

The operation of the gun has been already sufficiently indicated, save in one particularnamely, the muzzle of the gun must be elevated to insure passage by gravity of pro jectiles rearward into the vertical passage above the upper end of the carrier, which then raises them into the horizontal air-blast passage e. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an air-gun, the combination of the swingiugguard or finger-lever,with thespringpressed carrier-lever pivoted beneath the airchamber, and a vertically-sliding carrier connected with the carrier-lever, as shown and described, whereby the closing movement of the guard-lever raises the carrier, as specified.

2. In an air-gun, the combination, with the air-chamber, sliding piston, and piston-rod having the downwardly-bent arm, the carrier, and spring-pressed carrier-lever pivoted centrally beneath the air-chamber, of the pivoted and swinging guard or finger-lever whose inner arm Works between the rear extremities of the piston-rod and carrier-lever and acts successively on both for preparing the gun for discharge, as specified.

3. In an air-gun, the combination of the air-chamber and the two-part lock-frame having perforated abutments and flanges projecting toward each other for embracing the ends of said air-chamber, as shown and described.

i. In an air-gun, the combination, with the lock frame having a horizontal passage aligned with the firing-tube, the carrier working in a vertical passage that intersects the latter, and a lever for operating said carrier, of a sliding detent arranged above the carrier and serving to hold the projectile against accidentaldisplacement, substantially as shown and described.

5. In an air-gun, the combination, with the lock frame having a horizontal passage aligned with the firing-tube, of the carrier acting vertically in a passage that intersects the other, and a spring-pressed sliding pin which is arranged above and in alignment with the carrier and thus adapted for conjoint operation with it for holding a projectile, as shown and described.

6. In an air-gun, the combination, with the magazine and a firing-tube arranged within it and secured at each end, of a support therefor, which is arranged in the magazine and adapted for adjustment for restoring the tube to alignment with the magazine, substantially as shown and described.

7. In an air-gun, the combination, with the magazine and the firing-tube arranged within it and secured at each end, of the axiallyadjustable support and means for holding it in any adjustment, substantially as shown and described.

8. In an air-gun,the combination, with the magazine having a circumferential slot and a firing-tube arranged within it and secured at each end, of the apertured support for said firing-tube and a clamp-screw working in said slot, as shown and described.

9. In an air-gun,the combination, with the magazine and a firing-tube arranged within it, of fixed and adjustable plugs which support said firing-tube and have funnel-shaped perforations for passage of projectiles, as shown and described.

10. In an air-gun, the combination, with the barrel, of a spring-retracted pin which slides in an opening directly over the point where the projectile is held ready for discharge, and

means for pressing the projectile directly against said pin,whereby the latter serves temporarily as a detent for the projectile, and also is protruded from the barrel to normally indicate the presence of the projectile, as shown and described.

11. In an air-gun, the combination, with the barrel, of the detent or pin N, working in a vertical passage that intersects the horizon tal passage through which the projectiles are fired, a spring which holds said pin normally depressed so that it does not project above the barrel, and the carrier arranged in alignment with said pin, substantially as shown and described, whereby when the carrier elevates the projectile into the horizontal passage the projectile comes into contact with. and raises the pin above the barrel, whereby a visual indication is given that the gun is ready for discharge.

12. In an air-gun, the combination, with the magazine and firing-tube and a plug inserted in the front end of the magazine and having a charging-aperture, of a disk cover for said aperture, which is pivoted on the upset end of the firing-tube, as shown and described.

13. In an air-gun,the combination, with the delivery end of the magazine, of a detent arranged in the passage for the projectiles and adapted to prevent return of such projectiles that have passed rearward beneath it, as shown and described.

14. In an air-gun, the combination, with the magazine having slots contiguous to the breech, of the lock-frame made in two parts, each having a lug adapted to fit in one of said slots, as shown and described.

ELMER ELLSWORTH BAILEY.

Witnesses:

Amos W. HART, SoLoN O. KEMON. 

